Tampo - Planted Root

Soca music has always been around me. Even though my parents didn’t want it anywhere near my little ears, the radios, school events, and neighbours gave me a secret gateway in. It felt like watching a show past my bedtime. A forbidden thing that I stumbled upon that piqued my curiosity and called to my ancestral connection within. I needed to know more, and I didn’t mind gaining some of my parents’ ire to get there. DVRA’S SOCA TO CARNIVAL JOURNEY My first formal introduction to soca came through dance. I danced with a Bajan and Jamaican flag to Drstra Garcia ft. Machel Montano’s song “It’s Carnival,” before I knew I could travel to that island. It’s still on my list to go there, along with my other sister Caribbean islands. Many Machel Montano songs found their way to my feet before I could stop them from moving to the beat. Too bad for my church background, the soca bug bit me early. Soca was in my veins and in my blood. Then high school introduced me to another level of carnival, Sunday Road March. It seemed like only a certain caliber of people were allowed to jump, and my high school was filled with them. I was intrigued. My art class added to that as I still have an artist statement about the history of carnival in my artist journal from 2010. The hair, the makeup, the boots, the costumes. A part of me wanted to be in it. I’d stay up all night waiting for the photos to be uploaded on FaceBook, and they didn’t disappoint. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I always wanted to know why people said, “Carnival is woman.” CARNIVAL, A MINI CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL INSIGHT There is an entire culture and language in the carnival space that I’m still learning as I go along. Bands or bandhouses are basically the design house like in the fashion world. Sections would be the different looks offered under the bandhouse, like ready to wear versus couture and avant garde. Jump Mas or play a mas is the term used for dancing a.k.a. jumping, or saying you’ll attend. People tend to do a dance walk on the road to keep in time with the music and the trucks. The entire thing began as a form of liberation for enslaved Africans in the Caribbean to celebrate themselves and their freedom. Some researchers say it began in Trinidad, but others say Brazil and Spain erred the originators from their Catholic Masqurade festivities after fasting during Easter. Carnival, as we know it today, began in Trinidad and Tobago. Most of the prominent designers, soca musicians, and DJs are from Trinidad. In Barbados, it is called Crop Over, and in Antigua it is called Spice Mas. It happens at the end of Spring or the end of Easter here in Jamaica. Other countries with Caribbean disapora like Canada and the United Kingdom have created their own versions, but unfortunately, the cultural relevance was lost in translation, with many assuming it is a sexual free for all event. It is not. There are rules and cultural importance. Please learn and respect them. There are several parties leading up to the penultimate day and a few cooling down events afterwards. I’ve yet to attend them all, so I’m challenging myself to give it a try this year. Let me immerse myself in the full experience to really give a more in-depth review of the festivities. There are foods, outfits, drinks, and many songs to learn and love. There are paint, water, holi powder, and foam parties to choose from. The aim? Fun, frolicking, and freedom. FASHION Monday wear. I don’t understand this aspect as yet, but Caribbean Lookbook on Instagram and TikTok shares some really cool insight on what it is and some pieces to admire as well. What I do know is that it’s an entire production to get your look ready for de road. Last year, I created a collage for my hair, makeup, and shoes inspirations, yes my shoes too, for my 2025 Azula costume by GenXS Jamaica. To help with that, there is a service called GlamHub where ladies can get their hair styled, makeup done, costumes on, and photos taken all in one location. For the men? Never forgotten. They can ge...

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